Back in Business: Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Call off Strike
For now, the state government has agreed not to impose the additional 30 per cent local entertainment tax.
The three-day long theatre strike and appeals from stars like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan seem to have paid off. Theatre owners and distributors in Tamil Nadu called off their strike against GST on Thursday. All cinema halls in the state would re-open tomorrow.
According to a report by Deccan Chronicle, the decision to call off the strike was taken after the state government said they would form a committee to decide on municipal tax.
"We are withdrawing our strike. From tomorrow theatres will be open," Abhirami Ramanathan of Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners and Distributors Association told ANI.
He added, "A committee of Govt and our representatives formed to sort out the issue of tax, so we have decided to call off strike."
As many as 1,100 theatres across Tamil Nadu have been shut since Monday after the owners called for an indefinite strike to protest the state’s imposition of a 30 per cent entertainment tax in addition to the 28 per cent Goods and Sevices Tax (GST). Association members met state Finance Minister D Jayakumar who assured cooperation and said that the matter required a decision at the policy level. They had also met Chief Minister K Palaniswami to register their concern.
Well, movie lovers can heave a sigh of relief now.
Also read: Rajinikanth Breaks Silence, Extends Support To TN Theatres Strike
(Inputs: Deccan Chronicle)